New Administrator For Aiken School

May 13, 1999

WEST HARTFORD — Deep River Elementary School Principal Laurel Mills is leaving her post in August to become curriculum specialist at Aiken School in September.

Mills said Wednesday that curriculum development has always been her specialty in a career that included 11 years with the Area Cooperative Educational Services organization in New Haven. She was assistant principal at the Beecher Road School in Woodbridge before arriving at Deep River Elementary in the summer of 1996.

``That's kind of the reason I'm leaving, to be able to do that kind of work on a regular basis,'' she said. ``I have mixed feelings about leaving, but I have thought hard about what is important to me in my own career.''

Mills noted that while many school systems have districtwide curriculum specialists, the West Hartford position will allow her to focus her efforts in a single elementary school. She said her salary in the new position will be in the range of $70,000 per year.

Nathan Schatz, chairman of Deep River's board of education, said Mills will be missed by staff and students. ``She worked well with the teachers and brought a lot to the school in terms of improving the educational program,'' he said.